Associate Professor

Rachael Suddarth, PhD, CCC-SLP

Rachael Suddarth, PhD, CCC-SLP is a professor of Speech Pathology in the College of Health and Human Services. I am a first-generation college student.

I have neuro-diverse family members.

Completed the Iowa Family Leadership Training Institute - designed to help parents of children with special healthcare needs navigate school and medical settings in Iowa, advocate for best practices with the legislature.

Contact Us

Center for Communication and Social Development

563-333-3923

SuddarthRachaelM@sau.edu

Education and Training

PhD, University of Arizona, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
MA, BS, Truman State University, Communication Disorders

Recent Publications and Research

Becker, K. & Suddarth, R. (2017 May). Adolescent social communication and 1:1 laptop programs: The effect of technology in the schools on social communication. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Cooper, S., Lewis, L., Walters, V., & Suddarth, R. (2017 May). The awareness and use of accommodations for students with disabilities at St. Ambrose University. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Lapacz, T., Obenhaus, S., & Suddarth, R. (2017 May). Factors that influence perceived resiliency in graduate programs. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Trumbull, J. & Suddarth, R. (2017 May). What are the potential gaps in knowledge impacting educator's ability to identify dyslexia/at-risk students for reading disability. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Suddarth, R. (2016 Nov). One Piece of Paper: Hands-On Strategies to Engage Language Impaired Students in Vocabulary Learning. Seminar, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention. Philadelphia, PA.
Suddarth, R. (2016 Oct). Language and Literacy Routine. Invited continuing education presentation, Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Iowa City, IA.
Hoffmire, B., Motto, C., & Suddarth, R. (2016 Oct). Are speech buddies placement tools effective in therapy method for treatment-resistant phonemes? Poster Presentation, Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Iowa City, IA.
Suddarth, R. (2016 Oct). Advocacy day and how to engage all year. Invited poster presentation, Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Iowa City, IA.
Suddarth, R. (2016 Oct). Building early literacy for children with developmental challenges. Invited continuing education presentation, Building a Brighter Future For Young Children, sponsored by Children's Therapy Center of the Quad Cities and St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Concaldi, J., Wylie, L., & Suddarth, R. (2016 May). Effectiveness of speech buddy tools: For clients with therapy resistant speech sound disorders. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Jakomin, J., Rio, C., & Suddarth, R. (2016 May). Education, attitudes, and instruction time spent on transgender voice and communication therapy in graduate level speech-language pathology programs. Poster presentation at St. Ambrose University. Davenport, IA.
Zender, R. & Suddarth, R. (2015 Nov). The impact of mental health counseling on stroke survivor caregiver burden scores. Poster Presentation at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Denver, CO.
Good, S. & Suddarth, R. (2015 Oct). The impact of combat trauma on returning service members success in transitioning into higher education. Poster Presentation at Iowa State Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Des Moines, IA.
Histed, L. Hartley, T., & Suddarth, R. (2015 May). Comparing errorful and errorless approaches: plication in the treatment of anomia for patients with aphasia. Poster Presentation at St. Ambrose. Davenport, IA.
Suddarth, R., Vance, R., & Plante, E. (2012). Written language characteristics in adults with language-based learning disabilities. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. 55, 409-420.
Alt, M. & Suddarth, R. (2012). Sublexical influences on lexical learning in children with specific language impairment. Journal of Communication Disorders. 45, 84-97.

Presentations

Suddarth, R. (2024). Ethical Decision in Clinical Care. Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention.
Engstrom, T., Monahan, M. and Suddarth, R.M. (Oct, 2023). Examining the general public’s awareness of cognitive reserve and its cascading effects. Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention.
Kock, K. and Suddarth, R.M. (Oct, 2023). Advancing diversity outreach, member engagement, and professional involvement. Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention.
Suddarth, R.M. (Nov, 2023). Neurodiversity in the college classroom: Strategies that are helpful for any brain. St. Ambrose University, Center for Teaching Excellence.
Suddarth, R. (Mar 2022). Advocacy in Iowa and Beyond. ISHA 2022 Advocacy Day.
Suddarth, R. & Flynn, M. (Nov, 2021). A Social Justice Framework for the Graduate Curriculum. One-hour, in-person, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Washington D.C.
Schmedding-Bartley, J., Lugo-Neris, M., Daughrity, B., Hemmerich, A., Suddarth, R., Woolpert, D., & Neubauer, N. (Nov, 2021). Practical Tools for Infusing Cultural Competence into your CSD Course. One-hour, in-person, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention.
Suddarth, R. (Oct, 2021). Social Justice and Person Centered Care. Invited Presentation, Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention.

Courses Taught

Critical Thinking and Evidence-Based Practice
- This course covers topics relevant to critical thinking and its role in the scientific understanding of communication and its disorders. Topics include strategies for critical thinking, how human thinking can go awry and lead to erroneous beliefs, how personal attitudes play a role in the application of critical thinking, the connection between research and critical thinking, and how critical thinking influences and informs evidence-based practice
Research Methods I
- This course covers topics relevant to research in the field of speech-language pathology. Topics include the scientific method, research question development, research design, measurement principles, and basic descriptive statistics. This course provides the foundation for Research Methods Part 2 and the capstone research project
Research Methods II
- This course covers topics relevant to research in the held of speech-language pathology. Topics include ethical conduct in research, single-subject research design, how to write a literature review, dissemination of results, and how to incorporate research methods into personal practice. This course provides additional instruction critical for success in the graduate research capstone project.
Early Intervention
- This course includes information on issues in early intervention. Topics include: attachment, medical issues, counseling of families, developmental milestones, clinical practice in the early intervention setting, parent training, and emergent literacy. In addition, communication interaction strategies and communication facilitation strategies will be discussed. These strategies will inform not only personal clinical practice, but caregiver training as well.
Multicultural Assessment and Intervention
- This course is designed to look at intervention protocols in speech and language therapy and determine the cultural appropriateness of these practices to specific populations. The course will review fluency, voice, articulation, and language disorders and their treatments in terms of cultural perspective as well as programs developed for parents and teachers in the areas of literacy and language. Pre-requisite is Multicultural Assessment.
Phonetics
- Persons interested in pursuing a graduate degree in speech-language pathology will obtain fundamental knowledge and skills related to use of the International Phonetic Alphabet(IPA). The IPA is utilized by speech-language pathologists to transcribe speech samples of persons with normal speech, persons with delayed or disordered speech, and persons with accents and dialects. Students will also learn the acoustical, anatomical, and physiological characteristics of speech sounds, with focus on the speech sounds of American English. Permission of MSLP Program Director is required.
Developmental Disorders of Language and Cognition
- This course includes information on the five components of language and how those components intersect in higher level skills such as conversation, reading, and writing. Evaluation techniques such as narrative analysis and standardized assessment will be utilized in class. Practice issues such as: writing goals and planning therapy in light of the CCSS, intensifying instruction, and workload scheduling will be included.

Professional Service

Faculty Learning Community Leader (2017 - Present)
Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) - Member (2017- Present)
Council for an Integrative Learning Environment - Co-Chair (2012- Present)
Faculty Development Committee - Chair (2013 - 2016)
MSLP Research Committee - Chair (2012 - Present)
Human Book Day 2016 - 30 Million More Words: What Do We Need to Solve Injustice in Education?
Mission Week Talk 2016 - Integrity
Convocation 2016 - Keynote
The State of Interdisciplinary Learning on Campus - CILE Event - Co-Moderator: November 2016
Incorporating Justice in Fall Courses - CTE Event - Presenter: March 2015
Incorporating Gender in Fall Courses - CTE Event - Presenter: March 2014
Incorporating Sustainability in Spring Courses - CTE Event - Presenter: October 2013
Facilitating Service Learning Student Projects in the Quad City Area
Hope at the Brick House - Assist in planning and implementing fundraiser, Resource for the director and parents in establishing appropriate Individualized Education Plans for students
President Madison Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (2016 - present)
Minister at Damascus Road QC (2011-present)
Invited speaker and content contributor for spiritual discipline training for collegiate ministries (2008-present)

Professional Memberships

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Mentoring for Academic-Research Careers - Mentor (2013 - Present)
Iowa Speech-Language-Hearing Association
President (2025 - 2026), Vice President Government, Colleges, and Universities (2015 - 2020)
Establish advocacy day at the state capitol for students in Iowa in speech-pathology programs (2016 - Present)
Convention Planning Committee - Member (2015 - Present)
Autism Society of the Quad Cities: Board Member

Honors and Awards

Graduate Teaching Faculty of the Year, St. Ambrose University, 2015
Lisa Scott Leadership Academy, competitive program for faculty in communication sciences and disorders, sponsored through the Council on Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders